Vintages

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It’s no wonder that Rich Frank, one of Hollywood’s most creative, vibrant and ingenious players owns one of Napa Valley’s most unique wineries, Frank Family Vineyards. In the late 80s, Rich, a long-time Disney executive, couldn’t find the time to get away for long vacations. Soon he started coming to Napa on the weekends, realizing it was only a short plane flight awa... Read more

It’s no wonder that Rich Frank, one of Hollywood’s most creative, vibrant and ingenious players owns one of Napa Valley’s most unique wineries, Frank Family Vineyards. In the late 80s, Rich, a long-time Disney executive, couldn’t find the time to get away for long vacations. Soon he started coming to Napa on the weekends, realizing it was only a short plane flight away from Los Angeles. In 1990, he purchased a home in the eastern hills of Napa in Rutherford. Two years later, in 1992, Rich received a midnight phone call at his home in Los Angeles from his friend Koerner Rombauer, telling him that the Kornell Champagne Cellars on the site of historic Larkmead Winery was for sale and if there was ever a time to get into the wine business it was now. Rich wisely told Koerner to offer half the asking price, and less than 24 hours later, the two were co-owners of the Calistoga winery. In 2007, Rich Frank and Connie Frank purchased Koerner’s partnership share and assumed total control of Frank Family Vineyards. Next to the Antique Barrels Rich’s passion for the Napa Valley and Frank Family Vineyards underscores a wildly successful long-term career in Hollywood. He was Chairman of Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications and headed Disney’s syndication arm Buena Vista. He was then President of Walt Disney Studios for nearly a decade and oversaw the development of The Disney Channel. Prior to his tenure at Disney, Frank was President of the Paramount Television Group, President of Chris Craft Television, one of the founders of the USA Network and also served on their board. Under Frank’s leadership, television and movie properties such as "Cheers," "Taxi," "Family Ties," "Shogun," "Winds of War," "Entertainment Tonight," "Golden Girls," "Home Improvement," "Ellen," "Regis and Kathy Lee," "Dead Poet’s Society," "Good Morning Vietnam," "Pretty Woman," "Father of the Bride," "Aladdin" and "The Lion King" achieved phenomenal success. Rich was President of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for an unprecedented six years, a board member of the MPAA for eight and Vice Chairman and Executive Board Member of the American Film Institute. He also launched Telerep, a television ad sales firm, and was a buyer and media planner at BBDO. He remains active in the Television Academy and its Foundation, of which he is a member of the Board of Directors. In April 2003, Rich stepped out of semi-retirement and founded Integrated Entertainment Partners (IEP), a brand, advertising and marketing strategy company. In March 2004, he was named Chairman of the Board, The Firm, when IEP was merged into the high-profile management company. With clients ranging from Cameron Diaz, Martin Scorsese, to Snoop Dogg and Korn, The Firm was launched in 1997 by Jeff Kwatinetz, and made its most significant acquisition in 2002, when it bought the assets of former Hollywood superagent Michael Ovitz's Artists Management Group. In 2007, the Television Academy showed its appreciation for Rich’s contributions by awarding Rich the Syd Cassyd Founders Award. The Award is named in honor of the Television Academy’s founder, and was created to recognize members who have made a significant positive impact on the Academy through their efforts and service over many years of involvement. Only the eighth time the Academy has bestowed this prestigious honor, the Award was presented to Rich at the Creative Arts Awards Show on September 8, 2007 at the Shrine Auditorium. Additionally, Rich sits on the Board of two entrepreneurial companies: Hyperfactory, a full-service mobile ideas, media and execution company; and TerraCycle, an eco-friendly consumer goods company. Never one to rest on his laurels, the former adman turned Hollywood film and TV exec stepped into his role as Napa Valley vintner with ease, running one of Napa’s most notable and profitable wineries, Frank Family Vineyards. Rich is the proud grandfather of three and currently splits his time between Los Angeles and Napa. Read less

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